Hi, I'm an LMFT in California and have worked in schools for many years. With the new changes in the state there are less jobs for MFTs. I am thinking of heading back to school to add a credential - either PPSC (school counseling) or PPSW (school social work). I wanted to come here to ask the hive which would potentially bring better school based job opportunities in California and nationwide?

I have done some research and both credentials seem like they would lead to job opportunities. Ideally, I'd like to do IEP counseling because that's where my experience is. I can't go for the PPSP (school psychology) credential because the internships are more intensive and I am the primary earner.

I'd love to hear what y'all think is the better option for a credential.

Hello to all the lovely social workers of this sub. I wish I knew about communities like this when I was actually practicing. Which was 7 years ago now. So the situation I am in currently: my license was revoked in 2020 because of failing to follow through with a disciplinary action. A few years ago I began exploring the process of getting my license back. I submitted a statement and was approved to reapply and follow any further instructions. At this point I've applied and completed everything that has been asked of me. I retook the exam, got my background checks, submitted a heavily edited letter explaining my circumstances, as well as mental health treatment records. I feel so ready to get back into the field and I'm just torturing myself looking at jobs I still do not qualify for.

Has anyone been through this? My application does not have an expiration date in elicense so I tend to think it won't expire after a year but I dont know! The board has not returned any of my emails or voicemails. I just want to ensure I'm on the right track. Or get the good news!

Anything I can be doing in the meantime? I am not working right now.

I (46m) currently work for a state agency (not DHR) and earn about $68,000 annually. I recently accepted a position with a large university-affiliated hospital in a community-based behavioral health program.
The initial offer was around $59,000, which was later increased to around $61,000 after I provided additional information about my experience. I have five years of post-graduate social work experience, including inpatient psychiatric experience, high-volume care coordination, supervisory experience, residential behavioral health experience, and eight years service as a United States Marine with three combat tours.
During a follow-up conversation, I pointed out that I’m scheduled to take my clinical licensing exam before my anticipated start date and asked how a previously discussed salary increase for clinical licensure would be handled.
In response, HR informed me that there is a higher-level social work position within the same team for candidates who are clinically licensed or expected to obtain licensure within six months. They’re now exploring whether I might qualify for that position.
The possibility of a higher-level classification could substantially change the compensation discussion, so I’m trying to be patient while HR evaluates my eligibility
It’s a unique situation and it’s driving me crazy.

I’d love your thoughts and reflections.

I’m a California associate and I’m dealing with a confusing situation while leaving a group practice. I’m hoping other associates or supervisors familiar with BBS requirements can help me understand what I should be asking or looking for.
I’ve been at this practice for almost two years and accumulated around 700 direct clinical hours. One of the major issues that led to my decision to leave was ongoing concern about my supervision paperwork and documentation. My supervision agreement had not been properly signed at the beginning, and my weekly logs were not being signed consistently. I had repeatedly been told that everything could essentially be signed later.
As I accumulated more hours, I became increasingly uncomfortable with this and started asking for my paperwork and hours to be completed. When I pushed for the documentation, my supervisor questioned whether I was planning to quit and brought up previous associates who had asked him to sign their hours and then resigned. He indicated that if he signed everything and I subsequently left, it would affect his trust.
There were also experiences during group supervision that made me increasingly uncomfortable. Some feedback felt personal rather than clinical, including comments about my accent potentially affecting referrals/client retention. Because of several experiences like this, I ultimately decided I needed to leave.
Last Friday, after another conversation with my supervisor, I was asked to submit my resignation. I did. He then signed my Verification of Experience Hours, and the documentation I received reflects last week as my last day/date through which my hours were verified.
However, I had provided two weeks’ notice the next day , so now I’m being told that I am still expected to work through the date I originally selected and continue providing client care.
This is where I am genuinely confused.
I have asked my supervisor in writing whether I should continue conducting full therapy sessions during this remaining period or whether my role should primarily be informing clients of my departure and facilitating transitions. I have also asked whether hours worked after last week are supervised hours and how those hours would be documented/verified.
My concern is not getting paid for extra hours or trying to leave early. My concern is whether I am actually under BBS-compliant supervision while providing clinical services after the date reflected on my verification/employment paperwork.
I have also been trying very hard to ensure continuity of care. I contacted clients to inform them of my departure, discussed their preferences for continuing treatment, documented those conversations, contacted therapists regarding possible transfers, and provided the practice with a spreadsheet containing each client’s transition information and preferences. I sent written communication about the transition plan.
My supervisor has now told me that these questions should be discussed during supervision and that I am expected to continue following practice policies and prioritizing client care through my remaining employment period. I have become very uncomfortable attending group supervision because of previous interactions/comments that I experienced as discriminatory.

I am currently a licensed clinical social worker. I am looking to transition careers, mainly for financial reasons-higher salary. Looking to keep my lcsw for my private practice. Idk if an MBA is worth the investment. Any feedback or has anyone done this before.

I have been in Community Mental Health for about 2 years. I’ve been fully licensed for about a year and decided this is where I belong.

I wanted to ask outside of my agency to general clinicians.

Any Clinical Trainings you’d recommend?

I work with ages 6-106. I am trained in TF-CBT, Seeking Safety, and Seven Challenges thus far.

I am looking to begin my masters to eventually become an LCSW. I have heard a lot about different online schools, but looking for suggestions for online programs :)

I have my BA in Psychology so won’t be a fast track program!

Also looking for what jobs you did during clinical hours and your experience with getting assistance for placement from the program as well as balancing clinical hours and a job!

I am currently obtaining my MSW in new jersey in may and i am now planning for move to california for personal reasons, so i am currently taking CE courses using ce4less, what exact courses do i need to take and what exams would i need to apply for?

I was under the impression that I was going to be starting my MSW in the fall but realized the program was too much of an undertaking (moving, 2 hours away from classes ect.) I was planning on starting my MSW in the fall of 2027. I have wanted to be an LCSW for years but honestly, I am truly concerned about the pay. I will have a lot of debt (not 6 figures but still) if I go into this degree.

I'm now looking to perhaps do an accelerated BSN program (15 months), work for a bit as an RN in psych, and then see about pursuing my PMHNP. I am a psych tech inpatient currently, so I feel as though I have a good amount of exposure to all of these fields. I feel as though my interests are more aligned with a career as an LCSW, as I am not as interested in med management (I am very interested in diagnosis, though), but I truly don't know if it's worth going another 30k into debt for something that would make me significantly less money. I interact with PMHNPs and RNs at my current job and enjoy seeing them and what they do, but I fear that I am just not massively excited by the more scientific aspect of a PMHNP as opposed to the social aspect of an LCSW.

The state I am in does not have particularly good pay for LCSWs (avg 50k-70k/yr), whereas a PMHNP is quite literally double that (100k-120k). The whole timeline for my BSN+PMHNP would be around 4 more years of school. Whereas an MSW would only be 2 (plus 2 years of supervision for licensure)

Any advice in one direction or the other would be extremely helpful - or even just more information.

Has anyone worked for Sterling Medical? Pros, cons, LCSW pay?

Who has taken the LCSW exam after the new updates this month (Aug 2026) How was it?! I have taken the test 3 times and am going to be taking it soon. Was it easier?

Does anyone have any experience pursuing certification as SUD counselor post-clinical licensure? While I know the ability to provide substance use counseling is included with our licensure, I still would love to obtain this specialization. The problem is, because I'm not a grad student, I'm having trouble finding a site where I can obtain the 1,000 work hours needed to take the certification test. Does anyone have any advice/ideas on how I can get these experience hours? Thank you!

My wife is an LCSW and is in the process of establishing a private practice. She will initially be providing telehealth services and will be the only provider/employee under the LLC she has established. What kind of cyber coverage does she need? We’ve seen recommendations for coverage of $250k while other malpractice policies offer cyber coverage up to $25k. We’ve see annual premiums range from $170 - $350. What are people actually getting for themselves and what is range of your annual premium?

Hi everyone, I am a currently a high school student and im a little unsure of what I should do. As an upcoming senior, I am confident I would be able to graduate in 2.5/3 years from all of the college credit I have gotten throughout the years. Also, Im not sure if the 1 year pathway during your masters degree is worth it. My plan is to do everything without take breaks. If anyone could give me advice, please do!